Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-08-11

she was going to visit neighbor, and en-
]oyed long ramble and talk with her,
while the neighbor went unyisited. In
after years, being more accustomed 10
determination, he has looked back upon
his conduct at this time, and wondered
how he could have been so blind as not 10
see that he was endangering this un-
sophisticated girls peace of mind by at
tenslons which were intended innocently
enough, but which had become to her
very serious matter.
For the face, the voice, the talk of this
man were something new to her. In the
few very old romances that were among
the heirlooms of tho family, she
had read of just such beauti-
ful, eloquent, wonderful men MS he,
and lo!-here was veritable hero of
old romance right before her. To be sure,
he had told her that he was q divinity
student in far-away university; but this
only added to his attractions. She thought
he must be just as good as he was hand
some and intellectual; and that whole
month was to her delicious dream.
But there came day when she was
rudely brought back 10 earth. MIR. Braid
wood had determined that his vacation had
lasted long enough, and with sudden i'm
patience to return to his books, he resolved
to leave this vicinity on the next day. 1t
was at the spring where he first met her
that he announced his intention to Sarah.
She gave him startled look, and he saw
with a swift pang that her cheeks we're
like ashes.
Goodbye, my dear little FRIEND" he
said, taking her hand. at has been very
pleasant for me to see you and talk with
you SO often, because there are 30 very few
about here that l can talk with. Let US
hope We may meet again"
She spoke not; but there was something
in her eyes that reproached him. Obeying
an impulse most extraordinary for him, he
kissed her. Then he hurried away.
She watched him until she could no
longer see him; and throwing herself down
by the spring, she cried bitterly.
|
1t was fully twenty-five years after that
parting that Mr.. Braidwood was called
upon to attend dying woman at one of
the hospitals. The call was unusual:
he was engrossed in his proper clerical
lnbors; but he was told that she had named
him, and requested that he be sent for, and
| he did not hesitate.
ltwas worn, wasted face that looked up
to him from the pallet.
You don't know me-" the voice wills
pered.
| He admitted that he did not.
DO you remember Sarah Bartlett?"
| Poor woman!-even the name had been
| forgotten.
But as she began 10 tell her story, men,
ory carried him back to the spring thou
sand miles off, and he recognized the pretty
creature of that scene in the poor object
| before him.
She told him briefly, for she had notlong
to live, her sad story of marriage with n
course lout, of the birth and death of
children, of their removal to this city, of
want, ill-treatment, and hunger, of her
abandonment by her wretched husband,
and of her being brought here to die. She
told it all with pathos that moved the
kind minister to tears.
My poor woman" he said, "what shall
do for your Shall pray with you?"
80 no, sir-I know I shall be happier
where am going than I have been here.
There is one thing that you can do for me
in my last moments. You didn't mean to
do wrong when you met me SO often away
off there at my old home; but you made me
love you in spite of myself, and all
the world was blank when you went
away; didn't care what became of me.
You broke my heart that time you kissed
me by the spring and left me forever.
Perhaps-now I'm leaving you and every
body forever-perhaps you'll kiss me
again."
He could not refuse; he wished not to
refuse. Afterward, he knelt by that death-
bed. and prayed in voice choked with
emotion.
BY himself was this story confded to me
year ago. have altered the names in
the narrative; nothing else.
"My life speaks for me-" he said,
awhether it has been good. Yet how weak
we are! See how piece of thoughtless
folly, careless indiscretion, comes sud-
denly upon me after the lapse of years, to
arouse my conscience, and vex my peace
with Chicago LEDGER
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